Exercising apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 bm n Q 1l., 0 .Uw ff m. W

#MN n? J. P. SWEENEY ExERcIsING APPARATUS Ffiled July 20, 11940 oct., 19, 1943.

Oct. 19, 1943. J, P. swEENEY ExERcIsING APPARATUS 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1940 Nmd Oct. 19, 1943. J. P. swEENEY ExERcIsING APPARATUS Filed July 2o. 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www . W ww @Nunn l, n ILVldr,

Oct. 19, 1943. J, P. swEENEY EXERCISING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed` July 20, 1940 51 projecting from opposite ends of the gear housing 38|. As plainly shown in Fig. 4, the arms 31 are laterally spaced so that there is a wide open area between each pair of them, each of said areas, in particular, being formed by an end of the gear box, a socket, and one pair of arms.

In one of the sockets, as 35, is mounted an end of a tubular casing 38 which, in this particular the piston rod 16 projecting into the cylinder 11 instance, is the forward tubular casing,r and the opposite end of said casing is set into the socket element` 3S of the front crank housing 4|),which includes oppositely projectingarms 4| and said i front crank housing'has an `opening"leading to the interior thereof at the junctionA of the socket elements and said arms, which opening is closed by a detachable cover 4 2.

In the other gear bex 'seeker at is mounted one end of an outer tubular casing 43, the` othery end being mounted in the vsocket portion of the support` 32. l Passing through the' clamp element 33 of the support and telescoping into the Vouter tubular casing 43 is aninner tubularcasing 44 which can be slid in and out as desired and held in an adjusted vposition by the split clamp 33.

The outer 'end of the inner tubular casing 44 is set into the socket element 45 of the rear crankAv housing 45, including oppositely projecting short armsV 41 with an opening at the junction of said arms and the socket element, whichopening is normally closed by the removable cover |58.

VThe main vdrive shaft section 49 is mounted in a suitable bearing in the socket element 39 of the front crank housing 'and projects into vsaid housing with a bevel gear 53 fixed on said projecting end to mesh with the bevel gear 5| fixed to the crankshaft 5i. journalled in suitable bear,-

ings 53 mounted in the arms 4| of said 4front crank housing. The ends of the crankshaft 52 are squared as at 54, in Fig. Y15, or otherwise fashioned to receive the crank arms55 including rotatable handles or grips 56.

The inner or rear end of shaft section 49 is fixed to a coupling 51, Fig. 10, to which is also fixed one end; ofV the main or drive shaft section 5S passing longitudinally completely through the gear boxi38l andthe opening in the gear vbox which provide for the accommodation of the main shaftrsection 58 are closed by` suitable packing glands 59, one at each end of said gear box.

The other or rear end of the main or drive shaft section 58 is fixed in a coupling 6D, 5, to which is also attached the stub 6| carried' by one end of the hollow main or drive shaft section 62, and the opposite endof Ysaid hollow drive shaft sectionhasV a polygonal `opening 63 formed therein, either by Ashaping the hollow shaft sece tion/itself or by welding a'l piece thereto whichl has polygonal interiorformation.

Projecting through the polygonal opening 63 and telescoping into the hollow 'shaft section [i2v ris a polygonal shaped main or drive shaft seovthe main or drive fportionA ofthe frame.

meshing with the bevel gear 61 mounted ntermediate the ends of the shaft 68 and journalled in suitable bearings `in the rear crank housing t6, all similar to the assembly shown in the front crank housing. The ends of the crankshaft 68 have the crank arms 59 secured thereto and said arms carry rotatable pedal members 'itl which may be similar to the handles 5E, or in the shape of bicycle pedals, or stirrups.

On the section of the main or drive shaft within thegear box so as to freely revolve thereon, is mounted a worm 1| which meshes with a worm gear 12 keyed or otherwise fixed to the cross shaft 13 suitably journalled in the gear box, and

yfhaving'fone end protruding on which is mounted of -a suitable compressor, fixed, as at 18, to a This compressor, or the cylinder thereof, contains a suitable fluid and where'v the` piston rod enters said cylinder it is made fluid tight byV a suitable packing boX or gland 1S.' On the inner Vend of the 'piston rod 16 is "a piston 88 forV reciprocation' and to force i vthe fluid therein from one side of the piston'to the other vthrough the Apipe line 8| connecting both heads of the cylinder 'and said pipe line has a valve 82 interposed therein in order to regulate the speed at which the fluid may pass from one end to the other of the cylinder. With .this pipe line isalso connected a gaug 83 located in any suitable or convenient position to be viewed by the vuser of the apparatus while manually operating the same.

On the section of the'main or drive shaft within the'gear box and freely revolvable thereon, is mounted the worm gear 84 which meshes with a worm 85 keyed or otherwise fixed tov another cross shaft 88 which-'has anend projecting outside ofV the Vgear box opposite t'o the shaft 13. Since bothV of thecross shafts13 and` 86 project fromuthe gear box, and as the latter is to containv a suitable lubricant for the gears, said shaft and gear box are provided with packing boxes or glands 81.

On the outer end` of the *cross shaft 8S is mounted a pulley 88, preferablyfof the two'speed or multiple type which' is in line with a similar pulley 89 on the shaft 90 of the motor 9| or other suitable prime mover. VThe outer end of the shaftmay be supported in a pedestal 92, and said pedestal and motor 9|, may be mounted on a plate 93 carried by the'fra'me of the apparatus. A belt' 94'passes around both'of thepulleys 88 and 89 and may be shifted from one groove to another for changing the speed at which the cross shaft B6 is to be revolved, thereby regulating the speed of the main or drive shaft. Of 'course it will be obvious that anyother means for driving 'the f cross shaft 85 may be used, such asa train of gears or sprockets and 'a chain.

The worm 1| and the worm gear 84 which are looselymounted on the main or drive shaft are in spaced relation, and between them is a movable tion 96 with opposite flat faces Ato'iit the respective oblong openings `91 in oppositeends 'of the movable clutcli member 95.y

In mounting these parts, it is preferable that a Ybushing 98 lbe placed uponrthe mainor drive shaft so as to engage one end of the gear box thenmcunted olithes ait and a cire-ela! .ethics or washer plaeedyf; the shattered: leased.,

ela@

the mevable clutchmember iii-hay externes.

Spending keyviays.A dell slipped; interista, Next another circular bushing or washer l!!! vimplgoed onv the shaft and` movabley into engaeenientlwith theopposite endsoijthe keys.. Thereafter they wormA gear 84 is placeo'lv on theshaft so` thatuits.:` projection B engages the bushing Illflandnallyf the bushing |02 is placed on, thexshaftbetween; theworm gear 8l andan end of the gear box.

With the parts assembled in this manner,

. Y v"nth kermis., oithe Shaft so astoensageth vbuchi eiland,

whenever the movable clutch member 95 is moved l y towards the right hand side, or forwardly, as

shown in Figs. 10 and 1'7, said movable clutch member is clutched `to the worm gear 84 and therefore power and motion may be transmitted from the motor 9|, the pulleys and belt, the` cross shaft 86, the worm 35 and the worm gear to overcome the pressure of the compressor, andA such force will be registered on the gauge 83, indicating the amount of energy expended, and by noting the same, the operator may keep a record of his progress. f

The gear box mayhave a top opening normally closed by a removable cover |03 and this may carry a slidable clutch operating rod |04 having a fork |05 attached thereto which registers with an annular groove |95 in the movable clutch member. Projecting from the supports 3U and 3| and especially the socket portions 35 and 3B respectively, are brackets |01 located between pairs of ears |08 depending from the undersideof the longitudinal center of the body rest or table |09 and pins l Hl are projected through said ears and brackets to pivotally mount said body rest or table. In order lto permit the use of light weight material for the manufacture of the body rest or table and still have it suiiicientlystrong to support considerable weight and stand much l hard usage, longitudinal and transverse ribs III mayk be formed on the underside thereof.

One of the ears of one pair may be produced of sufficient length for cooperation with another ear i i 2 through which passes a pin I I3 for pivotally connecting one end of the .cam follower H4 with said bodyl rest or table and the other end` of said follower engages the cam H5, Fig. 10, xed to the main or drive'shaft, as by a key Irla, within the space between a pair of the arms 31.

In order to protect the body of the operator while using the apparatus, a cushion IIE of any suitable material is mounted on top of the body rest or table |09.

, Whenever the'main or drive shaft is revolved. either manually orl mechanically, the cam H5, through its follower H4 will oscillate the body rest or table laterally as indicated `by the dotted lines in Figs. 11 andl2.

From the foregoing description of the construen tion and operation of the exercising' apparatus, it will be apparent that a person gripping the (iii g mmgsa'tlthjs t tothebedyas in the case oi; a Swimmer. ,Dater-v from thespirit of my invention. Having thus described my invention, what I Tap-.Dro miailr the,

me time-imparting a r nV ent tyiseafif. Swimming strokes may be sire bri/ations changes inthe relatiensl ci the, arms 0f the freni and rear-cranks. which can.. bereadily aceemrlished, by resetting the @eine cranksl She-its- A f Such exercises will ,develoaihe muscles., efV the Operators bedr asimueh. @ser mais than-:When Walking, bicycle, riding 0r hill4 climbing and at the same time teach the .correct use 0f strokesfor swimming. y

Also, the operator may sit onthe table with feet and legs free and may effect a rowing motion by adjusting arms 55 so that they are both mounted on the same side of the crankshaft 52; or the operator may sit erect'on the table facing fthe rear end, with hands and arms free and effect a bicycling motion; or the operator may lie on his or her back on the table, operating withV feet only, which will exercise thelower muscles of the body,hips,etc.V

Of course I do not wish to be limid to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims without departing claimv as new and useful is:

1. 'An exercising apparatus comprisinga frame, a longitudinally 4telescopic casing including a gear box, a sectional telescopic main shaft mounted in Asaid casing, cranks mounted in the ends of said casing and geared to the main shaft, a worm gear loosely mountedon the main shaft within the gear box, a crossshaft journalled in said gear box with a portion of said cross shaft protruding from one side of thevgear box, a worm on said cross shaft within the gear box and meshing with the'worm gear, a clutch to selectively connect the worm gear with the main shaft, a pulley on the protruding end of the cross shaft, amotor including a shaft, avpulley on the shaft of the motor, a belt engaging said pulleys, and a body rest pivcted to the frame and positioned above the casing between the locations of the cranks.

2. The structure in claim 1, in combination with a cam on thek main shaft, and a follower pivoted to the underside of the body rest and engaging the cam to oscillate said body rest as the main shaft is revolved.

3. In a device of the kind described, a frame,

' a gear box, pairs of spaced arms projecting from in the gear box, means to couple one end of the second main shaft section to the first mentioned one, an kouter casing member having one end mounted in the other socket of the gear box, an inner casing member telescoping in the outer casy ing member, means to hold the inner casing member in any adjustment, a hollow main shaft secsecond main shaft section, another main shaft section having a long- Ypolygonalportion telescoping into the hollow section through its polygonal opening, a bevel gear on the outer end of the last named shaft section, a crank casing on the outer end of the inner casing member, a crank journalled in said crank casing, a bevel gear fixed to said crank and meshing with the gear on said last named main shaft section, a Worm and a worm gear loosely mounted on the second main shaft section within the `gear box, a clutch to selectively clutch the worm and the Worm gear to the main shaft, ya cross shaftjournalled in the gear box, a Worm gear thereon meshing with the worm'on the main shaft, a compressor, means to operate said compressor from the cross shaft, a second cross shaft journalled in the gear box, a worm thereonmeshingwith the Worm gear on the main shaft, means to drive said second cross shaft, and a body rest pivoted tothe frame above the gear box.

4. The structure in claim 3, in combination with a. cam on the main shaft section between one pair of gear box arms, and'means connecting said cam and body rest to oscillate the latter when the main shaft is revolved.

' JOHN P. SWEENEY. 

